Wire gauze cutting machine

ABSTRACT

In this machine for cutting wire gauze web a magnetic-pull bar is movable along a feed beam for transferring the wire gauze web to be cut, for example obliquely with an angle of, say, 14* to 90*, towards the cutting beam, comprises a cutting carriage provided with a disk cutter mounted for free rotation thereon and adapted, during the cutting stroke, to be resiliently pressed along its periphery adjacent to the cutting edge against the downstream face of a cutting bar supporting with its upper face, upstream of the cutting line, the edge of the wire gauze web to be cut, which is resiliently clamped against said upper face of said cutting bar by a series of presser members, said disk cutter being adapted, during the return stroke of said cutting carriage and subsequent to a cutting operation, to be shifted automatically forwards and upwards so that its cutting edge is completely clear of the cutting bar.

United States tent [191 Gazuit WIRE GAUZE CUTTING MACHINE [76] Inventor:Georges Gazuit, Chemin Chauveau,

03 Montlucon, France [22] Filed: June 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.1 154,730

[58] Field of Search ..83/247, 268, 276, 83/486, 508, 482, 409, 412,581; 221/212 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McKinley etall 83/482 Buccicone 1 ..22l/2l2 UX 3,077,803 2/1963 Hasselquist..83/486 X 3,120,915 2/1964 Horn et al ..83/488 X 3,207,019 9/1965 Vanzoet al ..83/508 X Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney-Morton Amster etal.

[5 7 1 ABSTRACT In this machine for cutting wire gauze web amagneticpull bar is movable along a feed beam for transferring the wiregauze web to be cut, for example obliquely with an angle of, say, 14 to90, towards the cutting beam, comprises a cutting carriage provided witha disk cutter mounted for free rotation thereon and adapted, during thecutting stroke, to be resiliently pressed along its periphery adjacentto the cutting edge against the downstream face of a cutting barsupporting with its upper face, upstream of the cutting line, the edgeof the wire gauze web to be cut, which is resiliently clamped againstsaid upper face of said cutting bar by a series of presser members, saiddisk cutter being adapted, during the return stroke of said cuttingcarriage and subsequent to a cutting operation, to be shiftedautomatically forwards and upwards so that its cutting edge iscompletely clear of the cutting bar.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTES m1 01m SHEET 1 [1F 3 WIRE GAUZECUTTING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in generalto machines for cutting wire gauze and has particular reference tomachines of this character but designed for the treatment of wire gauzestrips manufactured by effecting the longitudinal juxtaposition of thinmetal cables or wires embedded in rubber and subsequently fed through acalender acting transversely on said cables or wires.

Now these wire gauze strips are seldom utilized directly in theirinitial condition and more particularly they would be useless in themanufacture of tires. In fact, in this manufacture the wire gauze mustnecessarily have transverse or at least oblique wires in relation to theparallel edges of the strip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART.

To manufacture these strips obtained from an initial web in which thewires extend in the longitudinal or axial direction, tbis web is cutalong parallel, oblique lines in relation to the two edges of the web,to provide a series of lozenge-shaped pieces that are subsequentlyassembled along their edges, the aligned lines of cut being eventuallybordered so as to form the edges of the transform ed web.

To perform this work it is known to use a combination cutting machinecomprising a feed beam for uncoiling a reel of wire gauze and a cuttingbeam pivotally mounted to one end of said feed beam so that the cuttingangle may be varied from 14 to 90, the web being cut at the input end ofsaid cutting beam by means of a cutting device reciprocated along saidcutting beam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

It is the chief object of this invention to provide a wire gauze cuttingmachine of the general type broadly set forth hereinabove.

The cutting machine according to the present invention is characterizedin that it comprises a magneticpull bar movable along the feed beam fortransferring the wire gauze web to be cut towards the cutting beam, acutting carriage provided with a disk cutter mounted for free rotationthereon and adapted, during the cutting stroke, to be resilientlypressed along its periphery adjacent to the cutting edge against thedownstream face of a cutting bar supporting with its upper face,upstream of the cutting line, the edge of the wire gauze web to be cut,which is resiliently clamped against said upper face of said cutting barby a series of presser members, said disk cutter being adapted, duringthe return stroke of said cutting carriage and subsequent to a cuttingoperation, to be shifted automatically forwards and upwards so that itscutting edge is completely clear of the cutting bar.

Thus, the wire gauze web to be transformed is fed along the feed beam ina particularly simple yet reliable manner, without any risk of damagingthe web.

The structure of the cutting carriage is such that a particularly cleancut is obtained in a fully automatic manner by holding the edge to becut on the cutting bar by means of the presser devices, and also byvirtue of the rotational movement imparted to the disk cutter as aconsequence of its frictional contact with said cutting bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The features and advantages characterizing this invention will appearmore clearly and completely from the following description given withreference to the attached drawings illustrating diagrammatically aspecific and exemplary form of embodiment of the invention. In thedrawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view from above of a combination cuttingmachine for transforming a wire gauze web of the longitudinal wire typeinto wire gauze strips having transverse or oblique wires;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the feed beam;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a device provided on the feedbeam;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the cutting carriage,the section being taken along a plane transverse to the cutting beam;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of this carriage, taken along the line VV ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing on a smaller scale, in verticalsection, the presser action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

The specific form of embodiment of the cutting machine illustrated inthe drawings comprises essentially a feed beam 1 having pivoted to itsfront end, in a manner permitting of adjusting the cutting angle withinthe range of, say, 14 to a cutting beam 2 equipped with a dischargeconveyor 3, 4 and also with a bordering station 5 and a winding station6. The feed means (FIG. 2) includes a set of carrier rollers 7supporting the wire gauze web t, a magnetic-pull bar 8 provided with ametal strip 9 adapted to fix the wire gauze web t to the feed carriage10.

The action exerted by the magnetic-pull studs of bar 8, when energized,is reinforced by the metal strip 9 so as to close continuously themagnetic circuit causing the wire gauze t to adhere to said bar. Themagneticpull bar 8 is suspended from the feed carriage 10 by means of avertical pivot 11 rigidly supporting in concentric relationship asegment 12 adapted to be set and locked in the desired angular position,for example by means of a knurled-head screw, with respect to a bracket13 rigid with the feed carriage 10. It is thus possible to adjust atwill the inclination of the magnetic-pull bar 8 in relation to the feedcarriage l0 and consequently in relation to the feed beam 1 so that,irrespective of the value of the angle of cut, at the end of the feedmovement of carriage 10, said magnetic-pull bar will lie edge to edgewith respect to the cutting beam 2.

The feed carriage 10 driven through a chain transmission 18 from atwo-speed motor 14 provided with a reducting gear 15, a clutch 16 and abrake 17 is movable between a fixed abutment device 19 and a movable,adjustable abutment device 20 the position of which permits ofpresetting the width of the strip to be cut from the wire gauze web.

The movable abutment device 20 shown in detail in FIG. 3 is providedwith positive locking means comprising studs 21 engageable in selectednotches cut in the guide rails 22 of carriage 10. These studs areactuated by means of a control lever 23 through a double cam 24. Tocomplete the precision adjustment of this device, a screw and nutassembly 25 is adapted to position as desired the stop member 26 proper.This device is adapted to be locked by means of a lock handle 27. Avemier 47 is associated with this device so that the adjustment can bemade with all the necessary precision.

Although the construction illustrated comprises a motor and chain drivefor the feed carriage 10, this carriage is adapted to operate betweenabutment or stop members in order to obtain exactly identical movements,independently of any variable external factors, such as frictionalcontact, adherence, or inertia.

The clutch 16 of FIG. 2 is provided to this end for operating as acoupling and permit at the end of the predetermined stroke or movement acertain slip during one fraction of a second when the carriage engagesone of its two end stops.

The cutting assembly comprises a cutting beam 2 having secured theretothe fluid-actuated cylinder and piston units 28 (FIG. 6) and pressermembers 29 with their spring balance devices. The cutting carriage 30(FIG. 4) is adapted to travel in this cutting beam, the necessary drivebeing provided by a two-speed motor associated with a reduction gear, aclutch and a brake as in the case of the feed carriage. Secured to thiscarriage 30 is a sleeve 31 adjustable angularly in a horizontal plane sothat the disk cutter 32 can be inclined slightly in relation to thecutting bar 33. The inner space of sleeve 31 is filled by a pair ofcoaxial, rotatably mounted cylinders 34, 35. Cylinder 34 comprises atapped bore engaged by a screw 36 held against motion by a reaction rod37 and spring washers 38 for urging the disk cutter 32 against saidcutting bar 33. The other cylinder 35 carries the disk cutter 32 and itseccentric shank 39, and has a helical groove or slot 45 formed in itsouter periphery. A lost-motion coupling provided between the twocylinders comprises tenons 40, and the relative angular movements ofthese cylinders (through an angle of about 90) is obtained by actuatinga control lever 41 associated with a sliding bearing bar 42.

A peripheral groove 45 formed in cylinder 35 is engaged by a roller 46pivotally mounted inside the sleeve 31, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. I

The cutting assembly is completed by a set of unsticking members 43(FIG. 6) responsive to control cylinders 44 and adapted to prevent thewire gauze, after the cutting step and before the feed movement, fromadhering to the cutting bar 33.

A discharge conveyor consisting of three relatively small endless beltsdriven from a motor and reduction gearing unit is also provided. Itsoperation is part of a general cycle and the length of its movement,depending on the length of the cut wire gauze pieces or blanks, isdetected by a pulse pick-up or sensing member, a notched disk beingadapted to revolve in front of said member. The pulse number is recorded.by a preselective counter.

Jointing, bordering and coiling stations 4, and 6, respectively, as wellas an uncoiling station disposed upstream of the machine, are necessaryfor the complete operation of the machine but are no part of thisinvention.

The cutting machine according to the present invention operates asfollows:

The wire gauze web t uncoiled from the feed reel disposed upstream ofthe machine is attracted by the magnetic-pull bar 8 of feed carriage 10when the latter is in its rear position in engagement with the movable,adjustable abutment device (FIG. 2). Then the web is pushed to aposition in which it lies under the cutting assembly, to the extentcorresponding to the desired length to be cut, when the carriage 10engages the front abutment member 19. The presser member 29 (FIG. 6)then causes the wire gauze to become rigid with the cutting bar 33, sothat the magnetic-pull bar 8 can be released by discontinuing theenergization of the electromagnets and restoring the carriage 10 underno-load conditions to its position of engagement with the starting stop20 (FIG. 2), so as to prepare the next cutting operation. The cuttingassembly illustrated in FIGS. 4

to 6, which comprises the cutting bar 33 and a disk cutter 32, permitsof positioning the presser members 29 against the same cutting line,thus precluding any movement of the wire gauze during the cuttingoperation proper. This constitutes one of the essential featurescharacterizing this invention and permits of preserving the properquality of the cut wire-gauze material. The presser members 29 consistof a relatively great number of clamping elements connected to thecontrol cylinders 28 via a spring-type compensation device. As a result,the clamping pressure exerted on the cut width is constantly the same,irrespective of the possible variations in the thickness of the wiregauze material.

The cutting movement is produced by the transverse displacement ofcarriage 30 along the cutting beam 2. The disk cutter 32 bears againstthe cutting bar 33 as a consequence of the pressure exerted by springwashers 38 prestressed between said bar 33 and the reaction rod 37(without being power-driven) when the carriage 30 is moved, thus causingthe cutting action.

At the end of the cutting stroke, and before the carriage 30 engages thecorresponding stop, the sliding bearing bar 42 engages the stop andcauses the lever 41 to pivot through about and to cause in turn therotation of cylinders 34 and 35. As a result, the action of screw 34eliminates or releases the prestress of spring washers 38, as aconsequence of the action exerted by roller 46 on the walls of theoblique groove 45, thus releasing the disk cutter 32 from the bar 33 andeventually, as a direct consequence of the rotation of the other disk35, raising the cutting edge of the cutter 32 above the level of thecutting bar.

Then, a fresh piece of wire gauze may be fed under this disk while thecarriage 30 resumes its initial position by performing the same sequenceof operations as described hereinabove but in the reverse order.

It may be noted that, by properly determining the shape of groove 45,the action of spring washers 38 may be caused to occur only when thedisk cutter 32 is in its lowermost position, so as to avoid anypossibility of damaging this disk.

The cut piece of wire gauze is finally discharged by means of conveyor 3of FIG. 1, and is subsequently assembled with the preceding piece atstation 4, bordered at station 5 and coiled at station 6.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be brought to thespecific form of embodiment described and illustrated herein by way ofexample, but

these modifications and variations are not be construed as limiting thescope of the invention so far as the basic principles thereof areadhered to as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Wire gauze cutting machine comprising a feed beam for uncoiling aroll of wire gauze web, a cutting beam pivotally mounted to the one endof said feed beam so that the cutting angle may be varied from 14 to 90,and a cutting device adapted to be reciprocated along the cutting beam,which further comprises a magnetic pull bar movable beneath said feedbeam for transferring the wire gauze web to be cut towards said cuttingbeam, and a cutting carriage provided with a disk-shaped cutter mountedfor free rotation thereon and provided with a circular cutting edge, acutting bar against which said disk cutter is adapted to be resilientlypressed during the cutting stroke so as to engage said bar with itsperipheral portion adjacent said cutting edge, the upper face of saidcutting bar supporting upstream of the cutting line the edge of the webof wire gauze to be cut, a series of presser members resilientlypressing the edge of the web of wire gauze to be cut against said upperface of said cutting bar, said disk cutter, during the return strokes ofsaid cutting 'carriage, following each cutting operation proper,

being shifted automatically downstream and upwards so as to have itscutting edge disengaged completely from said cutting bar.

2. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 1, which comprises apair of rails (22) mounted on said feed beam, a feed carriage mountedbetween said pair of rails and supporting said magnetic pull bar, saidcarriage being movable between two end positions, and a fixed downstreamabutment device and an adjustable upstream abutment device for limitingsaid two end positions.

3. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein saiddownstream abutment device is adapted to be locked in notches cut insaid rails, a stop member being mounted in an adjustable position onsaid downstream abutment device.

4. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 2, which comprises amotor and a coupling device for releasably connecting said motor to saidfeed carriage while allowing said motor to slip when said carriageengages one of said abutment devices before said motor is stopped.

5. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 1, which comprises adisk cutter bearing and a sleeve in which said bearing is rotatablymounted, said sleeve being carried by said cutting carriage, and amechanism for controlling said bearing and cause in succession, at theend of a cutting stroke, the disengagement of said disk cutter inrelation to said cutting bar, the movement of said disk cutter in thedownstream direction and the upward movement of said disk cutter, abovethe level of the upper face of said cutting bar.

6. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said diskcutter is eccentrically mounted in its bearing rotatably and slidablymounted in turn in said sleeve, this machine further comprising a rollercarried by the inner surface of said sleeve and engaging a peripheralhelical groove formed in the outer wall of said bearing.

7. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth ll'l claim 5,

wherein said mechanism controlling the bearing of said disk cuttercomprises a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in said sleeve,downstream of said bearing and comprising a screw rigid with saidcarriage and engaged in an axial tapped bore of said cylinder, an armextending radially from said cylinder and automatic means for actuatingsaid arm at the end of the strokes of said cutting carriage.

8. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein saidbearing control mechanism comprises, between the upstream face of saidcylinder and the downstream face of said bearing, means for exerting aresilient axial upstream thrust against said bearing, means forproviding a lost-motion rotatable disengageable drive between saidbearing and said cylinder.

1. Wire gauze cutting machine comprising a feed beam for uncoiling aroll of wire gauze web, a cutting beam pivotally mounted to the one endof said feed beam so that the cutting angle may be varied from 14* to90*, and a cutting device adapted to be reciprocated along the cuttingbeam, which further comprises a magnetic pull bar movable beneath saidfeed beam for transferring the wire gauze web to be cut towards saidcutting beam, and a cutting carriage provided with a disk-shaped cuttermounted for free rotation thereon and provided with a circular cuttingedge, a cutting bar against which said disk cutter is adapted to beresiliently pressed during the cutting stroke so as to engage said barwith its peripheral portion adjacent said cutting edge, the upper faceof said cutting bar supporting upstream of the cutting line the edge ofthe web of wire gauze to be cut, a series of presser members resilientlypressing the edge of the web of wire gauze to be cut against said upperface of said cutting bar, said disk cutter, during the return strokes ofsaid cutting carriage, following each cutting operation proper, beingshifted automatically downstream and upwards so as to have its cuttingedge disengaged completely from said cutting bar.
 2. Wire Gauze cuttingmachine as set forth in claim 1, which comprises a pair of rails (22)mounted on said feed beam, a feed carriage mounted between said pair ofrails and supporting said magnetic pull bar, said carriage being movablebetween two end positions, and a fixed downstream abutment device and anadjustable upstream abutment device for limiting said two end positions.3. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein saiddownstream abutment device is adapted to be locked in notches cut insaid rails, a stop member being mounted in an adjustable position onsaid downstream abutment device.
 4. Wire gauze cutting machine as setforth in claim 2, which comprises a motor and a coupling device forreleasably connecting said motor to said feed carriage while allowingsaid motor to slip when said carriage engages one of said abutmentdevices before said motor is stopped.
 5. Wire gauze cutting machine asset forth in claim 1, which comprises a disk cutter bearing and a sleevein which said bearing is rotatably mounted, said sleeve being carried bysaid cutting carriage, and a mechanism for controlling said bearing andcause in succession, at the end of a cutting stroke, the disengagementof said disk cutter in relation to said cutting bar, the movement ofsaid disk cutter in the downstream direction and the upward movement ofsaid disk cutter, above the level of the upper face of said cutting bar.6. Wire gauze cutting machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said diskcutter is eccentrically mounted in its bearing rotatably and slidablymounted in turn in said sleeve, this machine further comprising a rollercarried by the inner surface of said sleeve and engaging a peripheralhelical groove formed in the outer wall of said bearing.
 7. Wire gauzecutting machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said mechanismcontrolling the bearing of said disk cutter comprises a cylinderrotatably and slidably mounted in said sleeve, downstream of saidbearing and comprising a screw rigid with said carriage and engaged inan axial tapped bore of said cylinder, an arm extending radially fromsaid cylinder and automatic means for actuating said arm at the end ofthe strokes of said cutting carriage.
 8. Wire gauze cutting machine asset forth in claim 7, wherein said bearing control mechanism comprises,between the upstream face of said cylinder and the downstream face ofsaid bearing, means for exerting a resilient axial upstream thrustagainst said bearing, means for providing a lost-motion rotatabledisengageable drive between said bearing and said cylinder.